Clothes

Clothes are the outfits that Sims wear. Sims are only without clothes when bathing, streaking, skinny-dipping, or WooHooing. Otherwise, Sims are always clothed wherever they go. Although clothing is largely cosmetic in nature, certain categories of clothing may affect gameplay; for example, wearing inadequate clothing in cold temperatures will make Sims uncomfortable. In addition, other Sims may react differently depending on the clothes a Sim is wearing—or lack thereof.

Sims are able to change the clothes they wear, either by using a dresser or on the spot before they perform certain interactions or go to certain places. In most circumstances, Sims will change their clothes simply by spinning around quickly. In console games prior to The Sims 3, Sims would produce changing booths before changing their clothes. Starting with The Sims 3, Sims no longer require a dresser or closet to change clothes, and can change into any category of clothing anywhere at the player's discretion.

Throughout all main games, common categories of clothing are everyday, formal, sleepwear, swimwear and (in an expansion pack) winterwear. Sims will change into everyday when heading out, formal for a wedding party, sleepwear when going to bed, swimwear when swimming, and winterwear as protection from extreme temperatures. The athletic category was carried forward from  The Sims 2, making Sims change into it when exercising. Swimwear did not initially appear in The Sims 4, but was added back in a patch soon after launch.

This article deals with the way clothes are acquired and used in gameplay; technical aspects of the way they work is covered in skin.